14 Things To Do in Japan That I Would LOVE to Do Again!

If I had a dime for every dull moment I had in Japan, well, I’d have exactly zero dimes. What I have instead is a long list of moments from my recent trip that I’d happily repeat... Here are 15 things to do in Japan that I’d genuinely do again!

I mean, even though teamLab Planets is called a digital art museum, it’s not a “look at the wall and move on” situation when you’re there.

You literally walk barefoot through different immersive rooms, with a shallow water installation with digital koi fish that scatter around your legs, a mirrored infinity room filled with hanging LED lights, a

Akihabara, or the “Electric Town” is Tokyo’s otaku capital. If you’re looking for the pop culture side of the city, this is where you should go.

Post–World War II, this area became known for black-market electronics. That history stuck, and today it’s still packed with multi-storey buildings selling gadgets, gaming consoles, PC parts, and things you didn’t know existed. But that’s only half the story.

Now it’s also ground zero for anime, manga, trading cards, figurines, retro arcades, maid cafés, and entire buildings dedicated to very specific fandoms. I genuinely thought nothing here could surprise me, but boy was I wrong.

I’ve only ever gone at night, and I’d recommend that. That’s when the neon signs are fully lit, screens are flashing, arcade sounds spill into the street, and the whole place feels alive.

Senso-ji, located in Asakusa, is Tokyo’s oldest temple, completed in 645 AD. But its story goes back even further. In 628, two brothers are said to have pulled a statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy from the Sumida River. They tried returning it to the water, but it kept coming back. A temple was eventually built nearby to honour her.

I entered through Kaminarimon, the famous “Thunder Gate,” marked by a massive red lantern that’s become a symbol of Asakusa, and honestly, of Tokyo itself. From there, I walked down Nakamise Street, a 200-metre stretch of traditional stalls leading to the inner Hozomon Gate and the main hall where along the way you’ll find freshly grilled rice crackers, matcha sweets, folding fans and handmade souvenirs. Beyond the second gate stands the main temple hall and a five-storey pagoda.

From Hakone, I took a sightseeing boat across Lake Ashi. If the sky is clear, Mount Fuji reflects on the water.(I guess I was lucky). Even if it’s cloudy, I’m pretty sure you’ll still get enough mountain views and the famous torii gate near the shoreline, making it one of the best things to do in Hakone!

Still on the fence about planning your Japan trip? Connect with travel experts from Cox and Kings to craft a holiday around what matters most to you.

The Hakone Ropeway connects Lake Ashi to Owakudani, where you can step into a gondola and glide straight over an active volcanic valley. Steam rises from cracks in the earth, the ground below looks scorched and restless…

Before or after the ropeway, you might find yourself riding a steep mountain railway or boarding one of Hakone’s famous “pirate ships” to cross Lake Ashi. It sounds theatrical. It is, but when you’re sailing across a crater lake with mountains around you, we are all pirates!

The ropeway itself lasts about 15–20 minutes, but it’s part of a bigger loop that links all of Hakone’s highlights into one continuous memorable ride.

Try the famous kuro tamago of Owakudani; black eggs that are formed from chicken eggs when boiled in the area’s natural sulfuric hot springs. A chemical reaction with the minerals turns the shell completely black. Crack it open, though, and inside it’s just a normal boiled egg.

Legend says each egg adds seven years to your life. Locals usually joke that you shouldn’t eat more than two or three in one sitting… just in case you accidentally become immortal!

If you’re travelling during sakura season, also read this article that talks about Planning an Eight-Day Trip Perfectly During Cherry Blossoms in Japan!

I didn’t originally plan to stop in Matsumoto. It was more of a “we’re passing through anyway” decision, and it turned out to be one of the best cultural things to do in Japan.

Matsumoto Castle, located in Nagano Prefecture in the Japanese Alps, is one of Japan’s few original 16th-century castles still standing. It’s nicknamed the “Crow Castle” (Karasu-jo) because of its striking black wooden exterior and the dark facade was designed to intimidate approaching enemies!

Unlike many Japanese castles built on hills, this is a flatland castle (hirajiro). Instead of height, it relied on moats, interlocking walls, and gatehouses for defense. The surrounding moat is massive, and on a still day, the reflection of the castle in the water is what photographers wait for. You’ll probably spot ducks, swans, and koi moving through the frame.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route cuts through Japan’s Northern Alps, crossing the Tateyama mountain range between Toyama and Nagano Prefectures. To cross the full route between Ogizawa and Tateyama Station, you switch between multiple modes of transport: mountain cable cars, highland buses, a ropeway, even an electric trolley bus!

If you go in spring, usually April to June, this is when the famous snow corridor opens. Walls of snow, sometimes 15 to 20 metres high, line the road, and you can step off and walk between them…It’s one of the seasonal Japanese things to do that genuinely feels different!

Planning your own version of this trip? Browse more Japan packages for seasonal itineraries, expert guidance, and curated holiday options!

After crossing the Alpine Route, I stopped at Shirakawa-go on the way south. It’s one of those places I almost skipped, and I’m glad I didn’t.

Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Some of them are over 250 years old. The steep, thatched roofs are designed to handle heavy snowfall, as the shape helps the snow slide off instead of collapsing the house.

I stopped at Ogimachi, the largest and most visited village here. Entry here is free, but parking costs around 1,000 yen per car, and more for tour buses. In winter, everything will be covered in snow, and it will surely make it to your next wallpaper.

You can read about the Shinkansen all you want, but until you’re on it, it’s just a statistic.

The trains can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h and most of the time, you barely register the speed. It’s only on the bends that you feel it, a slight G-force shift in your body that reminds you you’re moving very, very quickly…

I remember staring out the window as towns, houses, and rice fields blurred past on the way to Hiroshima. Seats are spacious, luggage space is organised, and departures run almost exactly on time. Taking the Shinkansen It’s one of those things to do in Japan that’s part of the cultural experience!

Most people head straight to Dotonbori once they’re here. The neon signs, the giant mechanical crab, the glowing billboards reflecting off the canal, street food stalls lining the sidewalks selling takoyaki and okonomiyaki!

But that vibrancy isn’t limited to one strip. Walk through Shinsaibashi for shopping during the day, then wander back into the smaller lanes after dark. You’ll find standing bars packed shoulder to shoulder, tiny family-run eateries, and casual spots where you order quickly, eat, and move on.

Discover more thoughtfully curated journeys around the world with Cox & Kings.